An overview of global parents who value community and family bonding across borders
By: Anieke Lamers
Looking for inspiration and a community of expat parenting tips on connecting with family members abroad? Look no further, because we found an overview of inspiring parents for you to check out on Instagram.
” Why is this list valuable for me as a reader? ” you may ask. Well in short: it will give you Playful Inspiration and makes you feel connected to a larger Community.
- Inspiration: At Peekabond, we value connection through playfulness, openness, and being ethical. We looked for parents all over the world who align with these values and found a number of “hidden gems” who we consider as the next up-and-coming Expat Parent influencers. At Peekabond we’re all about inspiration and we believe these influencers could provide inspiration from unexpected corners (of the world) to get you through the day, be playful and see how they share about their little ones.
- Community: not only are we all about connecting families within their own circles, but we are also building a community where our customers can inspire others (for example by letting these parents inspire other parents). We asked them about why family bonding is important to them, especially when family is far away, and their quotes really hit home for us. We made a shortlist of the best quotes we found and why we think you should check their profiles out.
Giving children a safe network of warm family ties is what binds these parents
Since the start of Peekabond, we have been following some really nice expat parents through social media. What we’ve noticed is that it’s not easy being a parent. Especially when you have a family far away with little social support from loved ones, it can sometimes be extra difficult. It is therefore nice to get some inspiration, playfulness, and encouraging words from other expat parents who are going through the same things as you are.
It sounds super tacky, but love is a universal language! Even though cultures, religions, backgrounds, and sexualities differ, it seems that there’s one thing that’s a common denominator: i’s the deep love and care for their children that these parents feel and that they want to give them a safe solid social network of warm family bonds that last a lifetime. Because connection can exist no matter the distance. This is illustrated by the nice quotes from them which we’d like to share with you. We asked them:
When we asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Ashley Corinne
(4 & 8 year-old children)
@thatblackfamilyabroad
Ashley’s quote:
It’s important to help my children build bonds with their families because I never want them to forget where they’ve come from. I want them to be proud of their roots, and to always remember that they have people who love and support them, no matter how far away. We are having a wonderful adventure living and traveling in Mexico.
Why we like her:
There is a quote from Mexico that goes “True love in Mexico isn’t between lovers; it’s between a parent and a child”, and we can relate to that because Ashley’s children are so loveable!
Ashley is an adventurous mom living in Mexico of two that travels the world. She loves exposing her children to new cultures helping her children to have an open mindset to the world.
As an expat mom, she understands the importance of being connected with family abroad. From child development science theory it turns out secure attachments are very important for a child’s development, and Ashley emphasizes that beautifully in her quote below. It implies that no matter how far away you are, there will always be a safe harbor to return to.
When we asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Amanda Vojvodin-Dargenio
(8-month-old child)
@lavitaestyle
Amanda’s Quote:
To learn the true meaning of love, that a connection can exist no matter the distance, and to learn firsthand the Canadian culture
Why we like her:
Our founder Anieke actually had the chance to meet Amanda and her beautiful baby during a video call and it was so nice to learn about her background and story of moving from Canada to Italy. Amanda and Anieke had a very nice connection being both entrepreneurial women, she has a background as Marketing -and Events Manager at Hermès. She was super helpful, wanting to give feedback and test our mobile app called Peekabond. We love that Amanda wants to expose her little child to her roots and culture in Canada whilst living in Italy.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Ali Em Kay
(2, 6, and 6-year-old children)
@mountainmama_amk
Ali’s quote:
It’s important for military families to have strong support networks, and that begins with extended family. Maintaining those relationships while abroad allows a child to feel safe and connected during big transitions and uncertain circumstances. We are a military family trying to take advantage of living all over the world by doing and seeing as much as we can!
Why we like her:
Ali is an amazing mom of three children with a great sense of humor who loves adventure. Her profile is full of backpacking, traveling, and funny experiences with her military family. We admire her lifestyle, and love that she makes sure her children feel connected, especially going through big transitions like moving internationally.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Kaylin
(6,4, and 1-year-old children)
@californiafitkaylin
Kaylin’s Quote:
Both mine & my husband’s families are an equal part of our children both biologically but also emotionally. We want them to know and feel connected to their family and learn about the different cultures that make them who they are.
We want that they to feel equally connected and familiar with the people and culture. We give them a sense of belonging and strive so they feel at home both in Sweden (where we live now and where my husband is from) as well as in America (where I am from and where my family is). This is, of course, easier said than done. But it means making it a priority to stay connected to family that is both near and far, visit regularly as well as have regular weekly FaceTime visits.
I love that Peekabond has a forum for parents who are raising children with multiple cultures and languages!
Why we like her:
Kaylin is from the USA, lives in Sweden, and is super passionate about raising children abroad with multiple cultures and languages. She is a lovely mom of 3 children, we love her posts about helping moms during postpartum periods and she shows us the daily experience of being a mom. Her profile is full of useful tips that help moms all over the world. What’s really great about her quote is that she has realized how important it is to realize that as an expat child of multiple cultures, it can be possible to feel at home in both countries.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Iva Ivanova
(1-year-old child)
@the.glenns.journey
Iva’s Quote:
My daughter is a child with dual citizenship, and it’s very important to be able to understand and be connected with both families she has.
Being bonded with her distant family is important for me for her future development as a person, so she can understand and cherish the values of a stable and happy family!
Why we like her:
Iva is a mom of a gorgeous baby and a British expat living in Dubai. At Peekabond we love her profile because it’s full of pictures of her baby Olivia, a lot of healthy and tasty food recipes, and travels that she does with her lovely family. This profile is full of amazing travel pictures and motherhood, and she understands the importance of having a stable family for a child’s development even when the family is at a distance.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” his answer was:
Alexander Yepremian
(8-month-old child)
@2_gays_and_a_little_lady
Alexander’s Quote:
Both my husband and I come from big families, although Zara is our one and only, we would like to keep her very close to her cousins.
We are a gay couple who met while working on a cruise ship. Zara was our 13th out of 14 embryos….. 7 times lucky!
Why we like them:
We love the profile of these lucky dads. They have a lovely child called Zara and they love to travel and explore the world: they have traveled to 97 countries. These awesome dads are owners of a restaurant in London that serves delicious brunches. They show us their daily life with their lovely Zara and they love to keep her connected with her cousins and family, especially since Zara is an only child.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Lyndsay Cavanagh
(1 & 3 year-old children)
@wanderlynds
Lyndsay’s quote:
A community and sense of belonging are valuable for everyone and significantly harder to develop in the expat world. Children especially can benefit from strong relationships with extended family. Feeling loved, cared for, and thought of by others, as well as having others to express love to, can nourish self-worth & self-esteem. I have a passion for traveling that extends into joy for sharing experiences and advice with others.
Why we like her:
Lindsay is an American mom living in Qatar who knows how important it is for us humans to feel a sense of community and belonging, and that it’s especially important for young children. However for expats this is sometimes easier said than done, so a bit of extra care and love is needed. She is a mother of two beautiful children. Her profile is amazing because she shows us the daily adventures of being an expat mom, how to have a healthy life, and the travels with her lovely family.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Alec Kristin Singletary
(4.5-year-old & 7-month-old children)
@alec.singletary
Alec’s quote:
Being gone most of the year can make it difficult but I want my kids to know how loved they are no matter how far they may be from loved ones. I want them to know they always have a family to come “home” to.
Why we like her:
At Peekabond, we love the quote “Home is where the heart is”. And this matches so well with her heartfelt quote. Alec is a mom of Paxton and Koa who loves to travel. She shows us her daily adventures with her two little ones. Her profile has a lot of playful basketball pictures with her children because their dad is a basketball player. She is caring and expressing her love and cheering him on when he is away.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” his answer was:
David Lee-Schneider
(9 & 13 year-old children)
@davidleeschneider
David’s Quote:
Strong roots and relationships are the foundation for success. I believe that travel provides some of the best education in life.
Why we like him:
David is a business dad who realizes how important strong family ties and roots are for success later in life. He helps businesses and loves to travel the world with his children. His profile is full of nature and love for the planet and animals, they are also an active family that is into sports and experiences. He shows the perfect balance of work, family, and adventure!
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Mina
(1-year-old child)
@Lifewithmina_com
Mina’s Quote:
Creating bonds ultimately helps social development in my child’s life.
Why we like her:
In Holland, there is a saying that goes like this: “love goes through the stomach”. It means that many people show their love through great food. Mina is an amazing mom living in the Netherlands and her profile is all about food and nice sugar-free child-friendly recipes! She realizes that – next to good food – strong family bonds are needed to help her child develop. We love her lifestyle and the love for her children that she shows in the pictures. We recommend following her recipes for those days when you want a healthy and tasty meal.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Alyse Rizzo
(4-year-old child)
@amrizz0
Alyse’s Quote:
For me, it’s very important to FaceTime three times a week to keep in touch! I also have my mom or dad read to my child or set up the phone to play in the room without me present. We love our time abroad. It gives our family a chance to connect and just be together traveling the world!
Why we like her:
Alyse is a proud mom that loves to travel, she has been to 33 different countries and has explored “34 US states”. Whilst traveling together brings them closer together as a family, she values staying in touch with the home front. She and her family live in Barcelona (Spain) and they are an inspiration for others of what it’s like to travel with a child whilst keeping in contact with family remotely. We love her profile!
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Liz
(2-year-old child)
@liz_abroadinchina
Liz’s Quote:
For me, it is especially important that we have a lot of contact with both parts of the family, especially because we don’t live close to them. Family is the most important thing not only in my culture but also in my husband’s culture. Especially in China, family is very important. We would like to pass this on to our son.
Why we like her:
Liz is an Austrian mom living in China and indicates that family is the most important thing in both Chinese as well as in Austrian culture and she wants to pass that on to her child. In her profile, she shows culture, travel, food, and very interesting tips about living abroad. She is a mom of a 2-year-old baby and her profile is really interesting if you want to learn and explore Chinese culture including its food, markets, and hotspots with her.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Tiffany
(3-year-old child)
@mylittlefamilyabroad
Tiffany’s Quote:
I have a big and very close family and being at a distance makes it difficult for my daughter to have that same feeling that I always had growing up. My first friends were my siblings and my cousins, and I want Julianna to know her cousins when we are finally able to get together. It is important for kids to see healthy and happy family dynamics no matter how far the distance.
We are a family of 3. I am from Texas and my fiancé is from Venezuela. We currently live in Spain with our daughter. I video chat with my mom every day and my family always exchanges photos and videos.
Why we like her:
Tiffany lives in Mallorca (Spain) and is a mom of a lovely girl called Julianna. She would love to give her daughter the same experience she had growing up with loving cousins who were her first friends. She loves to travel and show us what it is like with a family, but also stays in touch with family in Texas and Venezuela. She also loves to give tips on how to enjoy Spain as much as she does.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Nicole Plowman
(1-year-old child)
@nicolelynnplowman
Nicole’s Quote:
Family is very important to us. Living so far away from my family, I want my son to have that connection when we are able to visit in person as no time has passed between visits.
Why we like her:
Nicole is a stylish American Mom living in England with a love for music, travel, and family. She made a career in parenting and we really admire that. She understands that the most important things in life are the connections you make with others. She wants her son to feel close to the family at a distance as if they were never apart.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Amandine
(2-year-old child)
@amandinexpatfamily
Amandine’s Quote:
Because family is the foundation of everything. I’m all about simple and conscious living.
Why we like her:
Amandine is a conscious island mom, she shows us her parenting experience with her lovely 2-year-old child. One of the core values of our company Peekabond is that we value ethics and what we love about Amandine is that she is a traveler who loves nature and cares deeply for our planet.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Aerial
(1-year-old child)
@Aerial.Austin
Aerial’s Quote:
Culture for me is important. For him to know both sides of his family and their traditions and cultures is essential for his upbringing. It’s also nice for him to have a nurturing army of support. I’m an expat mom living in Budapest. My son’s father is Hungarian so we try to spend every summer in the US with my family.
Why we like her:
Aerial, a mom of a 1-year-old, has a wanderlust, a strong desire to travel and explore the world. She loves food and shows us all her adventures with her family and the ups and downs about daily parenting life. It’s not easy to connect to family and traditions but she really wants her son to have that strong basis. Her baby is gorgeous and we love seeing all the nature and travel pictures that she shares.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Marcia
(8 & 5 year-old children)
@unaregiaporelmundo
Marcia’s Quote:
Because they are part of their identity, it is part of who they are. The stories and memories they can share with them together fill spaces in their hearts, and the interactions with them shape their own personality and identity. Connecting with them fills a need for belonging, knowing you belong to a bigger group than your nuclear family. It is important to know where you come from and also know you are loved by so many.
Living abroad presents difficulties, yes, but it also shapes us into who we are and we see it as a continuous adventure that has both good and not so good experiences, but we are grateful for them and we also learn from them. Our phrase as a family is “Everything is part of the adventure” and that’s how we try to live our lives.
Why we like her:
Everything is part of the adventure, is the mantra that Marcia’s family lives by, and when we read her quote we got goosebumps, and it just really hits home. Marcia realizes the importance of transferring family stories from one generation to the next and gives people a sense of belonging.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Nina
(3,6 and 8-year-old children)
@the_expater
Nina’s Quote:
As a life coach, I know a bond is important on a cognitive level, and as a mum, the bond acts as a bridge so we can understand and respect each other more easily.
Why we like her:
Nina is a really special influencer because besides being an expat Mom, she is also an emotional supporter of expats. She is an Expat living in Uruguay that loves to travel, giving tips about building a career, and parenting. Alongside blogging, she is a life coach for women abroad. In addition, she regularly contributes to magazines on the theme of mental well-being, parenting, and building a career overseas. Her values and mission are very aligned with ours at Peekabond to help global families to build bonds in a playful and ethical way.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Ivy Elkington
(5,3 and 1-year-old children)
@ivyelkington
Ivy’s Quote:
Because family is so important and my kids having a relationship with them – even at a distance – helps my kids know just how loved they are!
I love being a mum and mum life can be messy, but it’s a beautiful mess sprinkled with lots of growth!
Why we like her:
Ivy is a playful mom with 3 beautiful children, and she shares many different insights about motherhood. She knows the importance of family members and having strong bonds even when you’re far away. We love her lifestyle and the love she shows for her children. They are a beautiful family!
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Kelsey
(1 & 3 year-old children)
@amautamama
Kelsey’s Quote:
It’s important for us that children remain connected with our family so that when we are able to see each other in person, it’s like we never skipped a beat. Their and our relationship with family abroad continue to bloom and flourish
Why we like her:
Kelsey is from the USA and lives abroad in Ecuador, she is a mom of two children and she has a lot of magical gifts: being a healer and a herbalist are some of them. Kelsey loves nature and showing her adventures with her little ones. She sees the value of staying connected with family so it never feels like they missed a beat.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Julie
(7 & 5-year-old children)
@ourexpatdiaries
Julie’s Quote:
We want our children to know they are part of a strong family unit. They are loved, cared about, and they are valued, despite distances. They love to share their lives with family on a regular basis and the time we do spend together is always special.
Why we like her:
Julie is a loving mom of two who loves to work and travel. She is an expat living in Thailand who shows us her daily life as a parent. She loves adventures and we just love the smiles on the face of her little ones whilst traveling together!
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was:
Helen Debrah-Ampofo
(7-month-old child)
@hdebrahampofo
Helen’s Quote:
We are so far away but family is always important.
Why we like her:
Helen is a British mom living in Dubai. She is a mom of a beautiful baby and we love her profile because she supports moms all over the world giving tips, writing interesting blogs and books, and showing us what it is like being an expat in Dubai.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” his answer was
Christopher Bonil
(1-month-old child)
@MrBonil
Christopher’s quote:
So the child can grow up feeling loved and understand what’s truly valuable in life: family. My business was my only baby until my baby girl showed up, now I have two babies I love
Why we like him:
Christopher recently became a proud dad of a baby girl. Before that, his baby was his business. Christopher is killing it as a CEO of @capitalbrokersgroup and founder of @torontohomefinders. Christopher specializes in marketing and real estate and is a gentleman who loves to travel with style. He’s a family guy who doesn’t hide his love for his new beautiful baby daughter, and he helps people by giving tips about finances, travels, sports, food, and much more.
When asked: “Why is it important for you to help your child to build a bond with the family?” her answer was
Charina
(9,3 and 2-year-old children)
@mom_andtheboys
Charina’s Quote:
Character and values begin in the family. I want to secure these foundations for my kids and make them feel loved. This foundation will prepare them for a future of opportunities and potential.
I am an expat and stay-at-home mom of three boys. I share my parenting tips, kids’ activities, and expat living on my blog at www.momandtheboys.com.
Why we like her:
Charina is a creative, playful, and fun mom of three boys who loves to share videos of her daily experience being an expat mom. She is a wonderful mom who cares about her kids’ education and raising them to be the best human beings they can be. Charina also loves to cook and share delicious recipes. Next to that, she writes a blog in which you can find articles from dads, moms, and printables for your kids so they can have a lot of fun being creative! If you want to give it a look, check out the link in her quote below. She wants to give her kids a balanced life between travels, education, and a lot of fun, and wants to prepare them for the challenges of life whilst always making them feel loved.
About Anieke
Anieke is the Founder and CEO of Peekabond. Anieke is an ex-Venture Capital investor having worked on impact investments and consumer tech deals for the past 8 years of her career. Anieke founded Peekabond from a personal passion because she is an aunt of a 3 year old niece in Australia. She immediately began searching for alternative ways to bond remotely with her little niece. But she couldn’t find a real solution, so she made it her mission to create the best digital platform possible. To build beautiful bonds across generations, continents, and cultures. To connect with or follow Anieke click here
Join Us at Peekabond
Peekabond is an interactive video messaging app designed for young children to connect with family at a distance. Use our fun and age-appropriate activity cards as inspiration to send video messages to young grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews. Create, share, and safely store playful moments with your family and friends. Perfect for parents who want their kids to create memories with far away family members and friends. If you would like to try Peekabond click here
